 Poll of 1,200 Residents Taken in May August 25, 2005
DOT Commissioner Mike Barton said the survey, conducted in May by Anchorage pollster Ivan Moore, provides good information for the department to use in shaping its operations in the coming years. "The survey shows a good correlation between what we are doing right and the resulting approval rating of 80 percent," Barton said. "At the same time, it shows where we need to put more concentrated effort - such as fixing more potholes - which is generally reflected in a small minority of respondents who said they were dissatisfied with DOT." Some highlights of the poll numbers show the following for highways ("satisfied" includes "somewhat satisfied" and "very satisfied," while "not" includes "somewhat dissatisfied" and "very dissatisfied"): Warning signs for construction,
detours, traffic conditions: 91% satisfied 7% not The majority of respondents showed support for Governor Frank Murkowski's initiatives to build access roads to resource development in rural Alaska. Access roads on the North Slope:
53% support - 35% oppose - 12% don't know The survey also asked about use of the Anchorage (ANC) and Fairbanks (FAI) International Airports, and showed a very high level of satisfaction with both facilities. Efficiency of travel through
airport: 90% satisfied ANC - 88% satisfied FAI Pollsters made a note of every suggestion respondents gave for changes they would like to see at the two international airports. These ranged from wanting more restrooms and food courts to less congestion at security checkpoints and providing an inside smoking area. The survey showed that 15 percent of respondents had used the Alaska Marine Highway System in the past 12 months, for a multitude of purposes, from pleasure and business trips to moving and social events. Of those ferry users, 87 percent were very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their overall experience, and 75 percent were satisfied that they got very good or fairly good value for the money they spent. "Even though the ferry system has been going through a transitional period, we are heartened by the survey results that show a loyalty and high level of satisfaction with the overall experience," Barton said. "We recognize that going into the fall-winter-spring schedule will require us to pay close attention to what our customers want, and we will certainly try to deliver ferry service that is as frequent and convenient as possible. And, while most ferry users indicate they believe they are getting good value for their money, we are still looking at some discounts for the off-season." The survey also asked questions about the use of bicycle and walking paths (86% satisfied), participation in the public process to determine statewide and regional transportation plans (a low rate of 3-6%), support for the use of roadside weed-killers (53% support, 37% oppose), knowledge and use of the 511 Travel-in-the-Know system (7%) and RWIS - the Road Weather Information System (41% had heard of it, but only 14% had used it), and the use and usefulness of the DOT website for obtaining information about DOT (28% had used it, while 88% of the users found what they were looking for). "Although it has been
several years since our last customer satisfaction survey was
done, I think it is important to use these polls to periodically
check and see if DOT is on the right road, so to speak,"
Barton said.
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